Sudanese MP’s decry financial misappropriations at the ministry of Guidance and Endowments
April 17, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Members of Sudan’s national assembly expressed outcry over incidents of financial misappropriation taking place at the Ministry of Guidance and Endowments likening it to “stealing god’s money” and described it as an ugly practice that should not occur in this specific ministry.
The minister of Guidance and Endowments Al-Fatih Taj El-sir, in a briefing to the parliament on Wednesday, said that a committee comprised of representatives from the Attorney General office and ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Security and Intelligence Services (NISS) was set up to review Sudan’s Endowments abroad.
El-sir revealed that they managed to recover 12,928 square meters of the Friendship Hall’s endowment which totals 41,469 Sq. m. The remainder he said is 28,541 Sq. m. which is equivalent to 78,487,750 Sudanese pounds (SDG).
The ministry, according to him, was given 12 residential land plots to offset the land that went to the presidency which is equivalent to 54,073,800 SDG.
The minister further added that Abu-Jinzeer and Al-Neel Street endowment lands were recovered. The remaining endowment land which is not recovered covers an area of 7147 Sq. m. which is estimated at 47,910,297 SDG.
The deputy speaker of parliament, Hajo Gasm Alsid, expressed his regret over wasting endowments money, saying that he did not expect that endowment money to be in millions of dollars, stressing the need to resolve the debate which has been ongoing since 2001 for the selection of a person to oversee endowments abroad.
Other members of Sudan’s parliament who deliberated on the minister’s statement harshly criticized the state-owned Shikan Insurance Company directing the ministry to end the company’s monopoly over pilgrims’ insurance and open the door for other companies to compete.
The MPs also asked the minister to find a permanent headquarters building for the ministry to benefit from the current “huge” monthly rent of 50,000 SDG.
(ST)